Italy’s first ‘ethnic’ MVNO prepares for launch

Ringo Mobile has secured an MVNA agreement; will launch services in the next few months. Italy is due to get a new virtual mobile operator that will focus on what it calls the “ethnic” market. Ringo Mobile is advertising its upcoming launch on its website, although there is some confusion as to when it will actually bring services to market. At the time of going to press the company’s countdown to launch read 109 days, but earlier on Wednesday the counter was on 24 days. Furthermore, a number of U.K. news outlets reported that Ringo will start offering services by the end of this month, although none cited their sources. According to Italian news site Mondo 3, mobile virtual network aggregator Nòverca has inked a deal that will enable the local unit of Switzerland-based International Communication Services Holding (ICS) to become an MVNO under the Ringo Mobile brand. Nòverca will supply the mobile network access and related technical functions, while ICS will set its own commercial agenda, including pricing and bundles. Unlike the aforementioned U.K. sources, Mondo 3 said that Ringo Mobile will launch “in the coming months”. Its offering will be aimed at Italy’s multi-ethnic population, which presumably means pricing plans that enable users to call family and friends in certain international markets at competitive rates. Source: total telecom